Insulator clamp



C. G- KQPPITZ INSULATOR CLAMP 7 Filed April 8, 1919 Patented May 6,1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL G. KOPPITZ, 0F. GREENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR- TO RAILWAY ANDINDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF GREENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR-ronarron or rnnnsnvanm.

INSULATOR CLAMP.

Application flied April 8, 1919. Serial No. 288,444.

To all 'u'lmm itwzag concern:

Be it known that I, CARL G. Korrrrz, a citizen of the United States,residin at Greensburg, in the county of \Vestmore and and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inInsulator Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to electrical insulators and moreparticularly to that type of insulators which are made of a plurality ofsections of porcelain or other similar material to form any desiredlength of in sulating column for use on high tension lines.

It is the object of this invention to provide a clamp which isparticularly adapted for clamping adjoining insulator sections together.

The invention consists broadly of a num ber of separate elements orunits adapted to engage adjoining insulator sections and means forforcing these elements into contact with the insulator sections to holdthem firmly together.

For a fuller understanding of the invention reference is had to theaccompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 represents a device which, atpresent, I consider as the preferred embodiment of the invention, a partof it being shown inelevation and a part in section;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the clamp.

Fig. 3 a fragmentary side view of the clamp.

Fig. 4 a section on the line 44, Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are a fragmentary side view and section respectively of amodification; and

Fi 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing another modification.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings a plurality of insulator sections 1 ofporcelain or other similar material is shown stacked up in the usual wayto form an insulating column. Each section or disk 1 has the usualetticoat 2 and between the petticoat an the upper and lower surfaces areprovided circumferential depressions or grooves 3 defining correspondingrims 4. The walls 9 of the rims 4 defined by glrploves 3 are slightl vtapered outwardly. e sections 1 are referably hollowed out. in thecenter as indicated by the numeral 5 and intermediate the adjoiningsections 1 I prefer to place sheets 18 of cop er which are co-extensivewith the contacting faces of the sections 1.

Vhile I consider copper as particularly the adjoining surfaces, i. e.afford a substantially uniform contact over the adjoining faces withoutcausin any extreme local stresses. At the top and bottom I provide endpieces 6 and 7 of cast iron or other suitable material. These end piecesare likewise formed to define rims 8 similar to rims 4.

To securely fasten the various sections 1 together to form an integralmechanical unit I use the clamping mechanism shown as a completeclamping unit in Fig. 2. This clamping mechanism comprises a pluralityof individual clamping elements or sections 10 circularly arranged toembrace two adoining insulator sections 1, a band 11 bearlng upon theouter surface of the clam ing elements andmeans for tightening or00sening the ends of the band.

The elements 10 have the form of an inverted open ended trough, i. e.have a top wall 12 and side walls 13. These walls 13 are inclined towardeach other to. the same angular extent as the walls 9 of the rims 4.Lips 14 are struck up from the top walls 12 and bent inwardl toward eachother to loosely embrace the liand 11. The band 11 and the elements 10are thus held together and form a complete clamping device.

When the insulator sections are properly stacked up as previouslydescribed the clamping devices are placed around the insulating column,the side walls 13 of the elements 10 engaging the walls 9 of adjoininginsulating sections 1. The ends of the bands are then tightened bysuitable mechanism. In the particular form shown there are used for thispurpose lugs 15 con-, nected to the ends of the bands, bolts 16extending through the ln s andnuts 17 for drawing the lugs 15 togeter.

The mechanical significance of the clamp ing device described is this:The various sections 1 of the column must be firmly and securely clampedtogether. The material of the insulatorsections is exceedingly brittleas is well known and care must be exercised not to break, crack orotherwise damage them. It would be fairly easy to meet these twoinconsistent requirements, if the diameter of adjoining sections 1 weresubstantially the same and if irregularities in the sections did notexist. It would be possible in such case to use a clamp made up of asingle piece or two similar halves bolted together. However, as is wellknown, it is inherently impossible to PI'OdLCO insulator sections whichare absolutely uniform. It is thus also inherently impossible to firmlyjoin insulator sections together without running the risk of damagingeither one or both of the adjoining sections or even breaking them orunevenly straining them which usually results in subsequent fracture. Bysubdividing the clamp into a relatively large number of clampingelements 10, the individual elements can readily adjust themselves tothe diameter of the adjoining in sulator sections 1 or to otherirregularities due to inherent manufacturing conditions.

The lips 1 1 loosely surround the band 11 so that the individualelements 10 may readily shift one way or the other, transversely orlongitudinally to accommodate themselves relatively to the contour ofthe edge or rim of the insulator sections. This flexible girdlestructure assures contact of the clamp with the insulator sections allaround their periphery and a substantially uniform distribution of thepressure applied by the band. The strain on the insulator sections istherefore substantially uniformly distributed and the danger of damagingor breaking largely eliminated.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a clamping device in which the clamping elements orunits 20 are not entirely separate from each other, but are integralwith a rib or band 21 which serves as the means for forcing the elements20 into contact with the rims of the insulating sections 1. In practiceI may form relatively long bands or strips having the cross-sectionalconfiguration shown in Fig. 6 or any other shape, then stamping outportions to form the slots 22 then cutting the strips into sections ofdesired length and finally attaching, preferably by welding, lugs 15 orother means for drawing the ends together. While the generaladaptability of the individual elements or units 20 is not as pronouncedas that of the elements 10 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the device operatessatisfactorily as a flexible girdle for the purpose specified.

Fig. 7 shows another modification in which the clamping elements orunits 30 are provided with lugs 31, the lugs of adjoining elements 30being interconnected by chain-links 32 or other similar connectingcontrivances. The lugs 31 are preferably enlarged at their upper ends toform linkretaining projections 33. The free ends of the clamping devicethus formed receive lugs such as lugs 15 or other suitable means fordrawing the flexible girdle device tight about the rims'of adjoininginsulator sections 1.

The invention may be modified in various other ways as is obvious.

I claim:

1. A clamping device for uniting insulator sections, comprising aplurality of clamping elements interconnected to form a flexible girdleand means at the free ends of the girdle thus formed for adjustablyinterlocking the latter.

2. A clamping device for uniting insulator sections, comprising aplurality of clamping elements, means for flexibly interconnecting themto form a flexible girdle and means at the ,free ends of the girdle thusformed for adjustably interlocking the latter.

3. A clamping device for uniting insulator sections, comprising a band,a lurality of clamping elements extending a ong the band and connectedthereto and mechanism at the free ends of the band for adjustablyinterlocking the latter.

4. A clamping device for uniting insulator sections, comprising aplurality of clamping elements, a band extending along the outer surfacethereof, means on the said elements for loosely holding the band theretoand means at the ends of the band for adjustably interlocking thelatter.

5. A clamping device for uniting insulator sections, comprising aplurality of clamping elements, a band extending along the outer surfacethereof, lips struck up from the said elements to loosely embrace theband and means at the ends of the band for adjustably interlocking them.

6. The combination of a pair of circular insulator sections havingadjoining rims and a clamping device comprising a plurality of clampingelements defining a flexible girdle and circumferentially engaging theadjoining rims and means for forcing the said clamping device intocontact with said rims.

7. The combination of a pair of circular insulator sections havingadjoining rims and a clamping device comprising a plurality of clampingelements circumferentially engaging the adjoining rims, a bandsurrounding the said elements and bearin thereon and means for drawingthe ban tight.

8. The combination of a pair of circular insulating sections havingadjoining rims and a clamping device comprising a plurality of clampingelements circumferentially engaging the adjoining rims, a. bandsurrounding the said elements and bearin thereon, means for looselyholding the band on the elements and means for drawing the band tight.

9. The combination of a pair of circular insulating sections havingadjoining rims, said rims having beveled walls, and a clam ing devicecomprising a plurality of troug like clamping elements engaging the saidbeveled walls, a band surrounding the said elements and bearing thereonand means for drawing theband tight.

10. The combination of a pair of insulator sections having peripheralprojections adjacent their joining faces and a flexible girdle engagingsaid projections and holdmg the sections in assembled relation.

11. The combination of a pair of insulator sections having peripheralprojections adjacent their joining faces, the pro ections having wallstapering toward each other,

a flexible girdle surrounding said projections and means on the girdlebearing upon the tapering walls.

12. The combination of a pair of insulator sections having recessedcentral portions and substantially annular contacting portions,peripheral projections adjacent their joining faces and a flexiblegirdle enprojections and holding the sections in assembled relation.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

CAR G. KOPPITZ.

